
Courtesy Jesse AlpertAt the dive site Blue Corner, divers have the chance to encounter charismatic fish, such as the humphead wrasse, also known as the Napoleon wrasse.
On a map, Blue Corner, a reef plateau jutting into the open ocean from Palau’s Ngemelis Island, doesn’t appear remarkable. But underwater, it’s like an amusement park ride: abundant marine life, sharks galore and exhilarating currents. You don’t have to search for interesting critters or wait for something big to swim by—you simply drop in and enjoy the show.
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Sam’s Tours Palau offers a Blue Corner Distinctive Specialty to prepare divers for the experience. This includes learning how to use a reef hook. The current can be so strong that divers need to (temporarily) attach themselves to a rocky portion of the reef. A reef hook allows divers to enjoy the action without kicking like crazy to stay in one place. When the current is ripping, divers look like kites suspended in an underwater breeze, secured in place with a cord extending from their BCD to the reef hook.
The course teaches divers how to choose a hook-in location that offers an excellent view while minimizing their impact on the reef. “We designed the course not only to educate divers about the site’s natural wonders but also to instill a sense of responsibility for preserving its beauty,” said Marc Bauman, co-author of the Blue Corner Distinctive Specialty.

Courtesy Jesse AlpertAt the dive site Blue Corner, divers have the chance to encounter charismatic fish, such as the humphead wrasse, also known as the Napoleon wrasse and plenty of sharks.
The Blue Corner Distinctive Specialty Course
Bauman worked with Dermot Keane, now managing director at Sam’s Tours, and biologist Ron Leidich to develop the course. The two-hour classroom session covers the tectonic activity that created the site, what makes the blue holes at Blue Corner, how to negotiate currents and an overview of the marine life divers can expect to see. “You learn about all the things that make Blue Corner special,” Bauman says. “It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the last places on Earth that is still as good as it was 30 years ago.”
Divers who are at least 15 years old with proof of at least 20 logged dives can earn the Blue Corner Distinctive Specialty certification by completing two dives at Blue Corner. The course can be completed over one or two days.
In addition to dozens of sharks, divers can expect to see bumphead parrotfish, Napoleon wrasse, turtles and schools of barracuda and giant trevally—but every dive is different. Blue Corner at slack tide can seem like a completely different dive site compared to when the current is strong. Divers who complete the Blue Corner Distinctive Specialty gain a behind-the-scenes understanding of the dive site’s dynamics.
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Courtesy Jesse AlpertThe Blue Corner Distinctive Specialty teaches divers to properly use a reef hook to passively enjoy the views.
A Special Corner of Our Blue Planet
“Many years ago, I took my mother to Blue Corner for the first time. She was so moved she cried happy tears underwater. It was one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen,” Bauman says.
To learn more about diving in Palau or to sign up for the Blue Corner Distinctive Specialty, visit samstours.com.